The Invader

           Through the years, on Sundays, I have witnessed many unique events. I once had a stranger tell me God had told him to give me a new vehicle. Another time, a young man in his twenties challenged me to a fight.

            Here is a story sent to me today by one of our members at Shiloh. I do not know if it was an actual event or a legend, but it is a nice reminder for us:

His name is Tim. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college.

He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a

Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative

church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not

sure how to go about it..

One day Tim decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his

T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Tim starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.

Tim gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the

church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Tim.

Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy.

The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane.

All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing.

The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Tim and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion...

When the minister gains control, he says,

“What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget.”

            I know one reason that church will never forget what it saw--the old deacon’s action is emblematic of the work of Jesus. Among other acts of service, Jesus came from heaven, lowered himself by our side, and offered the Father praise along with us, so we would not be alone.